While the 2012 SEMA Show certainly had plenty of other hot cars to divert the attention of its attendants, the fifth-generation Camaro once again was one of the most popular among displays as various manufacturers showed of the latest and greatest components. Inhabiting the Chevrolet Performance booth were a Tony Stewart inspired 2012 ZL1 coupe adorned with the “Smoke” theme via the Chevrolet Design team, a one-of COPO Camaro convertible to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson to benefit the American Heart Association, and the (Kinetic Blue) Camaro Hot Wheels Edition that will be available next year in the 2LT and 2SS trim levels (coupe and convertible). Other notables included several Trans Am conversions, and some from designers Neil Tjin and Rick Bottom. Some may argue that the “Holden8r,” a hybrid of a Holden Ute and Camaro, was the one everyone was talking about (even if technically not a Camaro).

NMCA 2013 SCHEDULE RELEASED

While the LSX Challenge Series may have been a wrap, there was still much work to be done among both the National Muscle Car Association and racers. The NMCA has been hard at work firming up its 2013 schedule. The Bradenton, Florida, race is set for March 21-24 and the season finals will be held in Indianapolis on October 10-13. The NMCA closed out its 2012 season in Houston, Texas where it hosted the Lone Star Shootout. The School of Automotive Machinists were among many in attendance, and the crew busted out a new best and an LSX record at their home track with the Hugger Orange All Motor Camaro while competing in the N/A 10.5 class. At class legal weight and with a forward facing hood scoop, the 439-inch LSX powered the ’99 SS to an 8.01 at 171mph. Mark Carlyle had also decided that he was not ready to put his C6 Z06 away for the season after setting the overall record for stock-style suspension at the LSX Shootout. Carlyle’s twin turbo beast went a 6.82 at 223mph at Maryland International Raceway at an Import Vs. Domestic race. This makes him the fastest IRS-equipped car in the world, not to mention the fastest LSX on stock-style suspension. He has surpassed Mike Moran’s old record, which was done in a tube chassis car, and is only a tenth off from the all time record of 6.73 that is currently being held by the tube chassis Monte Carlo of Adreas Anthursson in Sweden (using a whopping 34.5x17-inch slicks).

OPTIMA ULTIMATE STREET CAR

Over fifty cars went toe-to-toe in Nevada following the 2012 SEMA Show once again to determine which is the ultimate street car. The Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational featured several late model GMs including Danny Popp’s 2010 Camaro SS, which placed seventh overall, representing Lingenfelter Performance. From the Raymond’s Performance camp, Todd Rumpke piloted another ’10 Camaro that took twenty-second. The overall winner was Mark Stielow in his ’67 Camaro, a second trophy for the GM engineer and a pioneer in the G-machine movement. The event awards points based on a road rally, autocross, acceleration and braking (speed stop), road course laps, and performance and design.